ICAC relies on volunteer officers to investigate crimes against children

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Updated: 6:32 PM EST Jan 31, 2017

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WEBVTT A $250,000 GRANT,AND JUST ONE FULL TIME DETECTIVEWHO RELIES ON HELP FROMVOLUNTEERS.>> HE ABDUCTED ME FROM MYPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA HOME TOVIRGINIA, WHERE I WAS HELDCAPTIVE IN HIS BASEMENT DUNGEON.AMY: THE PROPOSED LEGISLATIONPROVIDES DEDICATED FUNDING TOCOMBAT CHILD SEX ABUSE ANDSEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN,AND IS NAMED AFTER THIS YOUNGWOMAN, WHOSE EXISTENCE TODAY ISBY ANY MEASURE A MIRACLE.>> I WAS RAPED, AND BEATEN, ANDTORTURED.AND I KNEW THAT I WAS GOING TODIE.>> THE INTERNET OFFERS ADISCRETE VENUE FOR VENDORS TOSOLICIT AND LOWER CHILDREN INTOSEXUAL ABUSE.AMY: THE INTERNET CRIMES AGAINSTCHILDREN TASK FORCE, OR ICAC,WAS FOUNDED 19 YEARS AGO BUTONLY NOW ARE STATE LAWMAKERS INTHE HOUSE AND SENATE WORKING TOALLOCATE STATE MONEY TO THEMISSIORELYING HEAVILY ON VOLUNTEEROFFICERS TO CONDUCT SEARCHWARRANTS, LIKE THIS ONE INSEABROOK A FEW WEEKS AGO.OFFICIALS REQUESTED $1.4MILLION, BUT THAT WAS REDUCED COMMITTEE TO $250,000.HERE'S WHY.>> WE WATNED TO BE REALISTIC ANDPRAGMATIC AND TO APPLY FOR ACRITICAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING THATWOULD ENSURE THIS PROGRAM WOULDCONTINUE AND GO FORWARD.AMY: IF APPROVED, IT'S NOTENOUGH TO HIRE THE 10 MOREINVESTIGATORS SERGEANT TOMGRELLA SAYS HE NEEDS, BUT WOULDSTILL BE A BOON TO THEIR MISSIONTHAT AVERAGES 20 ARRESTS A YEAR.GRELLA SAYS THIS FUNDING COULDHELP THEM --.-- HELP THEM DOUBLE THAT.>> WE NEED TO SEND A MESSAGE TOALL OF THOSE THAT ARE TARGETINGOUR CHILDREN, WE WILL FIND YOUAND YOU WILL BE BROUGHT TOJUSTICE.AMY: MOST I CAC INVESTIGATIONSSTART WITH A CYBER TIP.

Bill would provide funding for internet crimes task force

ICAC relies on volunteer officers to investigate crimes against children

New Hampshire's fight against online predators could soon have a crucial new weapon: funding from the State House.

Officials with the Internet Crimes Against Children task force said they have identified thousands of Granite State computers being used to transmit child sex abuse images. The team has been working without state funding, but a new bill could change that.

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Investigators said they know where the computers are but not who is using them. They said more than half of the downloaders are hands-on abusers of children.

The task force is funded by a $265,000 grant and consists of one full-time detective who relies on help from volunteers.

Lawmakers are considering passing Alicia's Law, a measure passed in other states that funds efforts to combat child sex abuse and sexual exploitation of children. It is named after Alicia Kozakiewicz, who traveled from Chicago to testify in support of the proposal.

"When I was 13 years old, I was groomed and lured from my home by an internet predator," Kozakiewicz said. "He abducted me from my Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home to Virginia, where I was held captive in his basement dungeon. I was raped and beaten and tortured. And I knew that I was going to die."

ICAC was founded 19 years ago, but state lawmakers in the House and Senate are only now working to allocate state money to the mission.

"The internet offers a discreet venue for offenders to solicit and lure children into sexual abuse," said bill sponsor Rep. Renny Cushing, D-Hampton.

ICAC has operated on an annual federal grant of $265,000 and relies heavily on volunteers from affiliate agencies to conduct search warrants.

Officials requested $1.4 million, but that was reduced in committee to $250,000.

"We wanted to be realistic and pragmatic and to apply for a critical amount of funding that would ensure this program would continue and go forward," said bill sponsor Sen. Martha Fuller Clark, D-Portsmouth.

The amount would not be enough to hire the 10 more investigators ICAC commander Detective Sgt. Tom Grella said he needs, but it would still be a boon to its mission. Grella said ICAC averages 20 arrests per year, and the funding could help double that number.

"We need to send a message to all of those that are targeting our children: 'We will find you, and you will be brought to justice,'" Grella said.

More testimony on the bill will be heard in subcommittee in the House next week.